Theatre VCU presents crowd-pleasing 'Ain’t Misbehavin'

Theatre VCU presents “Ain’t Misbehavin,” a crowd-pleasing revue featuring the music of Thomas “Fats” Waller, from Nov. 6 through Nov. 22 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

Waller, the comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem, lives on in this rollicking, finger-snapping show that is still considered one of Broadway’s best. Waller rose to fame during the golden age of the Cotton Club, honky tonk dives, stride piano players and swing. Each song in “Ain’t Misbehavin” tells a story and sets a scene. Among the songs included are “Honeysuckle Rose,” “This Joint is Jumpin’” and “Ain’t Misbehavin.”

Broadway veteran Patti D’Beck, an assistant professor at VCU who teaches movement for the actor and musical theater, is the director and choreographer of the Theatre VCU performance. In recent years, she has worked on several productions in the Richmond area, including “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Guys and Dolls” for the Barksdale Theatre, and “Chicago,” “Cabaret,” “Smokey Joe’s Café” and “The Civil War” for Theatre VCU. Her Broadway credits include “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Grease!,” “The Will Rogers Follies,” “Evita” and “Chorus Line,” among many others. She also choreographed the opening number for the 1997 Tony Awards for Rosie O’Donnell.

Performances of “Ain’t Misbehavin” are Nov. 6-7, 12-14 and 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 8, 15 and 22 at 3 p.m. High school matinees will be held on Nov. 10, 11 and 17 at 10 a.m.

Ticket prices are $25 for general admission; $20 for seniors and VCU faculty and staff; $10 for VCU students with a valid ID; $15 for other students with a valid ID; and $15 per person for groups of 20 or more people. Tickets can be purchased at the Hodges Theatre Box Office, Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, or reserved by calling 804-828-6026 or by e-mailing theatretix@vcu.edu.